Sad
I can understand using animals for important medical or genetic testing where there is really no other way. I am a graduate student and many of my friends either study animals in the wild, take wild animals into the lab, or use mice/rats in lab testing. The protocols and paperwork they have to go through is incredible, they are constantly checked up on, and the animals are pampered as much as possible. They are all doing really important work; they love people and love animals. Though I don't know anyone working on rabbits.
However I simply cannot abide by cosmetics testing. It is disgusting that human VANITY is used as an excuse to torture animals, and it sounds like either these companies are not being checked, or for some reason the stringent requirements don't apply to them. Or maybe it's state-by-state laws? I don't wear any makeup at all, and buy only cruelty-free bath/body products.
I've seen retired lab-rabbits at a rescue, they can really turn around and become happy healthy house buns. Perhaps campaigns can be put forward to raise awareness of the plight of lab rabbits and encourage labs to adopt out their rabbits to rescue organizations? I imagine they're normally euthanized, instead.
I'd like to add I'm a happy omnivore, and I think people who threaten researchers and labs are despicable. I understand the sentiment, but violence is not the answer. I joined the ALF forums for a while to see what they do, and was appalled by the terrifyingly intense anger and violence those people advocated (but not *really*, of course, so they couldn't be held liable if someone listened to them, *wink wink*).
What we need is more exposure, more level-headed campaigning, and more education. Animal rights advocates often get dismissed as rabid and unimportant. What we need are quick-witted people who can influence or put forth legislation. People need real viable alternatives to testing, specific examples, as opposed to general "that's so awful don't do that!".
As someone on the sidelines without that sort of influence, that might seem too hard to do or out of reach. But... maybe not.
